I always carry a walking staff when I go for a walk. It gives me something to twirl around and do upper body exercises with. It is a good dog deterrent. And it give me stability on uneven ground. I also carry a .38 revolver but that's another story.

My Shillelagh is an ironwood cane, about as thick as my wrist. It Would do as well as a Louisville Slugger, any day.

“Man’s mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is not. His body is given to him, its sustenance is not. His mind is given to him, its content is not. To remain alive, he must act, and before he can act he must know the nature and purpose of his action. He cannot obtain his food without a knowledge of food and of the way to obtain it. He cannot dig a ditch-or build a cyclotron-without a knowledge of his aim and of the means to achieve it. To remain alive, he must think." John Galt (Ayn Rand)

Patents are not evil, profit is not a dirty word, providing for your family's future is not a sin, and what is mine is not your's just because you want it. Kellory.I have received NO secret government orders.(Watch for this notice to be removed)

Dad collected al kinds of stuff like that I have inherited and the have become useful tools .
When in the woods I use a walking staff , either one I brought from home, or one made on site,I almost never venture in the bush with out one.
When going for walks around the neighborhood I have old ski polls that are sharp on the tip .
We have rattlers here as well as free running dogs , so it's nice to be prepared .
I cary a collapsable cane on the motorcycle in the event I really need it ,there have been days. so it worth having one around .
IF your planning on using a cane as a defensive tool then one needs to be in practice doing so, and developing one's grip and speed . otherwise one is supplying the foe with more weapons.

Monstery begins the armed section of his treatise with the cane, or hickory walking-stick, which he describes as “the proper companion of every gentleman”—good against knives, sword-canes, and even guns:

“Boxing will get a gentleman out of a great many scrapes into which he may fall, but in some parts of the Union he will come across men who habitually carry knives or pistols and in such a case a stout walking-stick, if he knows how to use it, may save his own life, and—what I consider more important—prevent the necessity of his taking the life of another. It may seem strange to some that I, who have passed my time in the profession of arms, and have lived so much in Spanish-America, where the use of weapons is universal and duels of everyday occurrence, should have a horror of taking life; and yet I can honestly say that I have always avoided it, except where there was an absolute certainty that the question lay between my own life and that of another who sought to kill me. For this reason I have always avoided the use of the pistol, except in battle. You cannot spare a man’s life with the pistol, and no generosity can be shown therewith. You must kill him or he kills you. With the cane it is different. Many are the pistols and knives that I have struck from the hands of men by a smart blow on the wrist with a cane, and many are the murderous brawls I have prevented in this way. As a queller of disturbances, I know of nothing better than a hickory or ash stick.” (Chapter 12)

Above: Image from Colonel Monstery’s section on self-defense with the cane, reprinted in Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies. (Photo of original in author’s collection)

Monstery describes his cane system as being based on the same fencing principles as the saber or broadsword, but with some important modifications to account for the lack of a guard to protect the hand. The parts of the body that he targets are also different than those targeted with the sword, due to the concussive (rather than cutting) nature of the cane. Monstery also notes:

“The hook is an important part of the cane. It doubles its usefulness, serves as a handle to rest on when it is used as a staff, prevents its slipping out of the hand when it is used as a weapon, and serves as a sling when you do not wish to handle the cane. With a hook to his cane, no man need ever abandon it, for he can always hang it over his left arm when not in use, so as to be ready to catch it instantly with the right.” (Chapter 12)

Monstery concludes his treatise with two chapters on thetwo-handed quarterstaff, which (according to Monstery) was still practiced during the nineteenth century as a living tradition in certain areas of Europe, and which he extols as a useful mode of defense when traveling in the country or mountains.

Monstery’s book remains an indispensable resource for the practitioner and enthusiast of nineteenth century self-defense techniques. We can do no better than to conclude with one of his maxims:

“Never consider yourself unarmed even if confronted by an armed man, for almost anything can be made into a weapon if properly used.” (Chapter 11)..."

Written during the 1920s this rare manual was a nice attempt to teach civilians a method of all in cane fighting for street survival .The prologue talks of a recognized and true master of arms Arturo Bonafont visiting an elderly fencing master and asking him to write the prologue to this manual .The older master was very insulted and thought this to be below his standard and the standard of all who teach classical fencing. He very much disliked the idea of promoting and teaching cane fencing as a means of self defence or as he called it “street brawling”. Bonafont, taken back by the old masters comments decided that the average law-abiding citizen should be able to defend themselves and their family, and so, after careful thought choose to write the prologue himself.
By integrating the classical movements from la canne, saber, bayonet and other forms of western fencing Bonafont devised a versatile and highly structured system. His approach is unique in that it would be the first to utilize all the standard parry’s, riposte’s, attacks and counter attacks while holding the cane in a reverse grip at the top of a non crook cane. While some people may consider the reverse grip limited in it’s combat application Bonafont proved completely the opposite . He would use his cane like a two handed bayonet for thrusting, a quarter staff for smashing and thrusting or a single sword in a reverse grip – as used by Japanese and Korean swordsmen.

“Nuevos Modus de Defenderse” contains 25 small chapters covering amongst other things molinets and cuts. Delivered along horizontal, vertical and diagonal plans the molinets were used both offensively and defensively at ‘Larga’ or long rang. Target selection included the temple, mandible, clavicle, stomach, kidneys, hand and knee cap .To develop speed, power and aggression, all cuts and thrusts are performed on two specially designed pieces of equipment. The first is a dummy or plastron which is shaped liked a man and the second a flat version that is attached to a wall.
Other blows included ‘golpes con el puno’, which are poking attacks with the top of the cane that extends from the hand. Falling into the ‘corto’ or close range grouping of skills the ‘con el pono’ manoeuvres form a vital part of the Bonafont system as did the ‘golpes de regaton’ or blows with the distal end of the cane .Due to Bonafont’s unique reverse grip these blows could be delivered in the ‘medio’ (middle) range from a variety of angles. Another blow was the ‘bastonazo’ which was delivered as a preemptive attack from non telegraphic defensive positions, targeting the groin and knees this swinging blow is given special attention in Bonafont’s manual.
Combination attacks start with molinets and ‘bastonazos’ from long range and finish with ‘regation and ‘puno’ methods at close range. Bonafont favours these combinations as ways to deal with armed attackers .
The rest of this excellent manual covers binding, defences against grabs and multiple attackers, street kicks and tripping common to the martial arts of France, Spain and Italy of which Bonafont was aware of. This manual is a treasure as it is entirely devoted to the use of the walking cane for street survival and has no sportive application to it.

Same as any weapon, one needs to practice. Or many things work; if one knows how to use them effectively.

Heraclitus:
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”

My Shillelagh is an ironwood cane, about as thick as my wrist. It Would do as well as a Louisville Slugger, any day.

Click to expand...

Dug it out for pics. This would work as well as any Indian war club.

“Man’s mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is not. His body is given to him, its sustenance is not. His mind is given to him, its content is not. To remain alive, he must act, and before he can act he must know the nature and purpose of his action. He cannot obtain his food without a knowledge of food and of the way to obtain it. He cannot dig a ditch-or build a cyclotron-without a knowledge of his aim and of the means to achieve it. To remain alive, he must think." John Galt (Ayn Rand)

Patents are not evil, profit is not a dirty word, providing for your family's future is not a sin, and what is mine is not your's just because you want it. Kellory.I have received NO secret government orders.(Watch for this notice to be removed)

A walking cane is quite useful when one doesn't want to shoot the threat.

Mine is ash about 4' long and 3" in diameter. Most dogs respect it or maybe our Pitts. Either way, it's a lot better than a 100gr 9mm at 1300+ FPS.

Heraclitus:
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”

A lot quieter too,
Doesn't run out of ammunition,
No moving parts (other than the wielder) to malfunction,
Requires no licenses, permits, or background checks,
Are in most circumstances an acceptable everyday carry option in the community,
Has multiple alternative survival and non survival uses,
Offers greater reach as a defensive/offensive weapon than one's limbs

However,

Its utility as a defensive/offensive weapon very much depends upon the knowledge, skill and training of the person wielding it.

Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools. - unsourced

To deny your oppressor's, or your own humanity is to descend into barbarism. - V. Chelloveck

Survival is a battle for the mind...mainly one's own. - V. Chelloveck

A beautiful idea founded on faulty reasoning is like a turd wrapped in gold foil, tinsel and glitter. Neither are wholesome if swollowed whole! - V. Chelloveck

What is a religion, but a cult with a larger following and a veneer of respectability. - V.C.

@chelloveck
It's more that I don't wish to kill a dog for simply being a dog more than anything else. I take killing any living creature quite seriously.

It is reach as well as it is the ability to damage. If you punch something as hard as you can; it will not do the same amount of damage as my stick.
Yes, I am quite adept at martial arts; if that is relevant as you don't know me except as a unknown value on the internet. That being said, I have a better read on you than you do of me.

My left had bears quite a few scars because a dog caught its collar in a crack in the boards of a deck. It would have been quite easy to kill the animal and I didn't. The poor thing was choking to death. I finally got my weight on it and my daughter's S/O freed it.

I doubt you understand what I am saying which is unimportant.

Heraclitus:
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”

I suppose it is NOT worth noting that is a truism, regardless of the weapon?

Click to expand...

Your truism of my truism is certainly true!

However, underscoring the point that without training, a stick, is pretty much just a stick is worth making note of for others new to the prepper scene .

There are plenty of people who own guns without the necessary training, and practice to make them useful ...it's the training and practice that converts a paper weight gathering dust, as much a danger to its user as to a perp; into a weapon that could save one's own life or the lives of others.

Our audience does not just comprise experienced preppers, but also visitors here who are curious and wish to fill in the gaps in their knowledge.

Last edited: Apr 12, 2016

Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools. - unsourced

To deny your oppressor's, or your own humanity is to descend into barbarism. - V. Chelloveck

Survival is a battle for the mind...mainly one's own. - V. Chelloveck

A beautiful idea founded on faulty reasoning is like a turd wrapped in gold foil, tinsel and glitter. Neither are wholesome if swollowed whole! - V. Chelloveck

What is a religion, but a cult with a larger following and a veneer of respectability. - V.C.

@chelloveck
It's more that I don't wish to kill a dog for simply being a dog more than anything else. I take killing any living creature quite seriously.

It is reach as well as it is the ability to damage. If you punch something as hard as you can; it will not do the same amount of damage as my stick.
Yes, I am quite adept at martial arts; if that is relevant as you don't know me except as a unknown value on the internet. That being said, I have a better read on you than you do of me.

My left had bears quite a few scars because a dog caught its collar in a crack in the boards of a deck. It would have been quite easy to kill the animal and I didn't. The poor thing was choking to death. I finally got my weight on it and my daughter's S/O freed it.

I doubt you understand what I am saying which is unimportant.

Click to expand...

Although quoting you, what I wrote was directed at the broader audience, than you specifically. I make no assumptions about your motivations or your abilities in using a walking stick for any purpose. That said, your contributions to the thread and mine tend to complement each other, rather than being divergent.

Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools. - unsourced

To deny your oppressor's, or your own humanity is to descend into barbarism. - V. Chelloveck

Survival is a battle for the mind...mainly one's own. - V. Chelloveck

A beautiful idea founded on faulty reasoning is like a turd wrapped in gold foil, tinsel and glitter. Neither are wholesome if swollowed whole! - V. Chelloveck

What is a religion, but a cult with a larger following and a veneer of respectability. - V.C.

Heraclitus:
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”